Game



Feb. 24, 1942. I, CAESAR v 2,273,932

- GAME Filed April 6, 1938 4 I INVENTOR.

46 BY lrw'ng aas'ar 19 A RNEY.

Patented Feb. 24, 1942 -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE azrssszf I GAME IrvingCaesar, New York, Application April 6', 1938, Serial. to; 200,293

tonnes. 1. 2,r3-.-r13 1') This invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly to animproved type of game board.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a simple and economically produced amusement device; to provide a device which is capable of lending itself to the use of various types of games; to provide an improved type of game boardwherein players are moved over'the surface of the board to designated positions on the playing surface; to providea game device wherein designations appearing on the playing surface may be physically removed therefrom and may be detachably secured to the players.

These and other objects will become more readily apparent from the following description in conjunction with the appended drawingfin which: y l I Fig. 1 is a plan view of the game board showing the playing surface! 7 v Fig. '2 is a plan view of one form of player;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the player shown in Fig. 2; t

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the game board showing a modified construction, with means for mounting the designations upon the playing surface; and j Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of player showing one manner in which a card containing a suitable designation may be secured with respect to the player.

Referring again to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the invention comprises a game board II which may be formed of pressed paper board, wood, metal or other suitable material. The upper face of the board H comprises a playing surface H which preferably is square in shape, subdivided into a suitable number of playing squares I3. As indicated in Fig. 1, the playing surface may be subdivided into sixty-four units, or playing squares I3, alternate squares being separately colored or being otherwise visually distinguishable from the others. To this extent the game board closely resembles that employed with the commonly known game of Checkers.

Preferably starting in the upper left hand corner and extending in a rightward direction, the successively lower rows of alternate squares are separately identified as for example by the use of progressive numbers as illustrated. For convenience in description these, alternate units are herein referred to as numbered squares M. The remaining units or subdivided squares are provided with characteristic designations of any convenient nature." These latter squares may be provided'with separate, individual designs, capable of rendering each such square distinctive from the corresponding remaining squares. Although. these squares are herein designated by separate characteristic letters, and are referred to as lettered squares I5, any. other suitable designation .may be employed. For example, various'words, codesym-bols, designs, or groups of words may be'employed in the respective squares to render them individually distinct from the others. i

Thegamealso comprises a plurality of players I'6, for'e'xample of the type illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The players preferably comprise generally circulardiscs, equal in number to the number of. lettered squares employed on the playing surface, but being divided into two separate groups, individually colored, as black and red.

One side of 'eac'h'player is marked or otherwise identified to'correspond with the respective designations'appearing in the lettered squares. The reverse. sidefinay be provided with a designation corresponding to the numbered squares, or if desired,'theface may be left blank.

To summarize the description with respect to the specific embodiment herein disclosed, the playing surface is subdivided into sixty-four squares, thirty-two ofwhich are numbered, and the alternate remaining squares of which are lettered or otherwise suitably designated. Each of the thirty-two players is provided with a legend, word, etc. corresponding to the designation of the lettered squares. Sixteen of the players may be colored red, and the remaining sixteen are distinguishable from them by means of different shape or coloration.

Although the game board lends itself well to the playing of various different games, of which Checkers is an example, the following rules have been found to provide a game of considerable fascination and interest. 'Twenty-four of the players are selected at random (twelve of each object being to move the respective players diagonally along the numbered squares in either direction until each player comes adjacent to the lettered square corresponding to the designation on the player, at which time, during a separate turn, the contestant may move the player into the proper space. This feat is acknowledged on the part of the opposing contestant by crowning the player with a second player, which second player is taken from the number of extra players available and placed on top of the first with the numbered side up. The players initially in the upper three rows may be jumped as in checkers by the contestant moving the players from the bottom three rows diagonally in the numbered squares in an upward direction. Similarly, the upper players, while moving diagonally downward, may jump the opposing players. As soon as any player is deposited in its proper lettered square and is crowned, that player becomes immune to capture and remains in its space until the end of the game. The game continues until one contestant or the other can no longer move his men, or until all players have been deposited on their proper lettered square. The object of the game is to get the most number of players on their respective lettered squares.

As an alternative form of construction the game board ll may be provided with a plurality of undercut recesses I! corresponding in size and shape with the lettered squares.

The respective designations may then be superimposed upon flat pasteboard cards H3 or the like to distinguish them from the others, which cards may be inserted within the respective recesses H. Furthermore, each player l6 may be provided with means for securing the corresponding card l8 thereto. For example, each player I6 may be provided with a diametrical slot 19 into which the card I8 may be frictionally inserted.

- vantages.

cate that the player has successfully reached its proper lettered square.

Various modifications will suggest themselves to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing its ad- For example, the letters and numbers etc. formed on the upper half of the game board may be inverted so as to be more readibly readable by the contestant whose players occupy the top three rows. Various other rules may be applied with the present game board to provide other types of games. For example, the crowned players may be returned to adjoining numbered squares for resumed diagonal movement, in which case they may jump uncrowned players while moving in either direction, but in such case, they too are susceptible to capture after being jumped by an opposing player in the manner indicated.

I claim:

1. A game board having a playing surface formed of square subdivisions, alternate squares being undercut to accommodate inscribed flat elements separable from said squares.

2. A game comprising a board having a plurality of square subdivisions on its playing surface, alternate squares being visually distinguished; square flat elements accommodated by the remaining squares, said square fiat elements being separable from said squares,each of said elements being provided with a legend distinctive from the remaining legends; and a plurality of playing pieces movable about the playing surface, each of said pieces being separately provided with a legend corresponding to one of the legends formed on said elements.

3. Game as claimed in claim 2 wherein each element comprises a flat square insert, and wherein each playing piece comprises a disc having a slot formed in its upper surface adapted to detachably receive said square insert.

4. A game board having a playing surface formed of square subdivisions; and a plurality of inserts, each of which is provided with a legend distinctive from the other legends, at least some of said subdivisions comprising recesses in said surface adapted to detachably receive said respective inserts.

IRVING CAESAR. 

